Friend of suspect who fatally shot deputy says he was ex-military with mental health issues

A close friend of a 21-year-old man who is accused of fatally shooting a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputy is speaking out and describing the last conversation they had.

On Friday, Deputy Devin Jaramillo, 27, was shot shortly before 4 p.m. in the area of the 12200 block of Southwest 128th Street.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Jaramillo responded to a traffic crash near 122nd Avenue and Southwest 128th Street and got into a verbal altercation with a man identified as Steven David Rustrian.

As the two continued to argue, the confrontation became physical, and at one point, Rustrian was able to disarm Jaramillo and shot him several times with his weapon.

Video shows the struggle between Jaramillo and Rustrian.

MDSO said Rustrian got back into his car and fatally shot himself.

Bystanders in the area called 911, and deputies performed first aid on Jaramillo and took him to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

NBC6 spoke to Rustrian’s close friend, Isaac, on Saturday.

He said Rustrian dealt with mental health issues and believed he was struggling the day he killed the deputy and himself.

Isaac told NBC6 that Rustrian called him moments after the crash.

“He called me and told me that he just got into an accident and that he felt he was about to have a panic attack,” he said. “I could hear it in his voice. He was distraught, nervous.”

Isaac had text messages between the two, with one being Rustrian sending him his location, which was the same place where the shooting took place.

He said Rustrian was ex-military and suffered from mental health issues.

“He was trying to deal with his mental issues,” he said. “His anxiety, panic disorders, he was on medication. I think this is a tragedy for the family of the police officer, the office, for my friend’s family and for my friend.”

Police records show that there was a second person at the scene who was detained but then released.

Isaac said he believes it was another person that Rustrian called in his moment of distress.

NBC6 has not confirmed the identity of the second person.

The investigation into the shooting remains active.